Extra-curriculars may soon resume at high schools

School Board

(KAWARTHA LAKES) High school students may soon see the return of their extra-curricular activities after a vote taken Friday (Feb. 22) by union local presidents from around the province to suspend political actions.
Locally, some high school teachers withdrew their involvement in voluntary activities in September. By November, there were no voluntary activities undertaken by any teachers.
Trillium Lakelands Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) president Peter Carroll said information regarding progress made in talks with the Province has been shared with his members. Decisions relating to voluntary services - such as involvement in school bands, drama and athletics as well as various clubs - will be up to each individual.
“These are voluntary activities and the people who deliver them have always had the option,” said Mr. Carroll, adding they have “never been part of the job or compensated.”
However, he noted that “members have continued to deliver the academic programs,” supporting student success and safety “and that’s been true this entire year.”
Mr. Carroll clarified that sanctions that were put in place last fall in response to opposition to Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act - such as not attending staff meetings and capping extra time at school outside of class hours - were lifted when the Province imposed contracts, made possible by the Bill, at the beginning of January. The contracts included a wage freeze, forced unpaid days off and ended the long-term banking of sick days and also cut sick days from 20 to 11; with three that can be banked for one year. Premier Kathleen Wynne has said she will not rip up the imposed contracts.
In a statement released Friday (Feb. 22) afternoon, Ms Wynne said she was pleased to hear the results of that day’s vote by OSSTF members and glad that “teachers, support staff and students across the province will once again enjoy the extra-curricular activities and programs that mean so much to them.”
She added the news is “a great indication of the hard work all parties are putting into the repair of this valued relationship. It shows our willingness to work together, to listen to one another’s concerns, and to find common ground on which we can rebuild a foundation of trust and create an effective process going forward.”
Trillium Lakelands Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) president Steve Colliver was “not surprised” by the vote, noting that union’s stance on extra-curriculars is also currently under review with word expected to come by March 1.
What does bother him is that he says the local school board has treated the two unions differently.
“They’ve had the same de facto ban of extra-curriculars as ETFO, yet the school board is only taking us [ETFO] to the Ontario Labour Review Board,” said Mr. Colliver, referencing the hearing that began a month ago, launched by the local school board and the Upper Canada District School Board over the legality of elementary teachers withdrawing voluntary services. “It’s pure hypocrisy.”
In response, Mr. Colliver said the local union is holding an information protest outside the Lindsay Education Centre Tuesday (Feb. 26) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; during the local school board’s regular meeting. Members will also protest outside board offices in Haliburton and Bracebridge.